A young girl who was left severely brain damaged due to complications during her birth is likely to receive a multi million pound compensation deal from the hospital responsible. Samantha Singleton-Parkes is now eight years old and was left with cerebral palsy and brain damage due to post delivery management issues by staff at Colchester General Hospital in 2003. Her mother claimed that the damage caused was due to negligence and this was initially denied by the hospital. However they have now agreed to pay 70% of her original compensation request. The exact amount has not been disclosed but it is expected to pay for Samantha's care throughout the rest of her life. The judge in the case has said that damage was done to a healthy child and compensation is based on that knowledge. The hospital trust has said that it was a tragic case and they are pleased it has now been resolved.

A two and half year battle for compensation has been partially resolved for the family of a pair of twins who were hit by a car while in their pram on a pedestrian crossing. The parents of Alaura and Stephen McCulloch were originally told they would not be entitled to compensation despite one child suffering head injuries because the driver did not have insurance. As it turns out the driver had failed to cancel his policy correctly and the insurance was still in place. The twin's mother had been crossing at a pedestrian crossing having been waved across by one driver. However the driver in the next lane failed to stop and hit the pram. While Stephen was badly injured, Alaura will need specialist care for the rest of her life. The insurance company has now admitted liability after they were shown CCTV footage of the accident showing the driver had a clear view of the road. The family now needs to fight for access to medical treatment for their daughter.
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It has been suggested by a group of MPs that those people living underneath the Heathrow flightpath should receive compensation because there is likely to be more noise associated with the proposed third runway. Residents who live under the flightpath can already apply to get grants for double glazing or for relocation, however the Free Enterprise Group led by 40 MPs has suggested that compensation of up to £40,000 for the worst affected may be suitable. However it may be a mute point as it appears likely that the third runway will not be approved in the near future. Colin Matthews from BAA has said that one of the largest constraints on approval is the noise and compensation may alleviate this. It has also been pointed out by the MPs that building a new runway is exactly what the UK needs to improve capacity. They suggest that there is not enough appreciation of the value associated with aviation.
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The European Court Of Human Rights has turned down a claim for compensation made by 150,000 private shareholders of Northern Rock. The investors held shares in the bank which was nationalised in 2008. The say they should get compensation from the government because their shares were valued at nil despite the "good" part of the bank being sold to Virgin Money. Dennis Grainger who is leading the group and was a former employee of the bank has stated that the judge found that it was legitimate for the government to say that shareholders were still getting value while it was under national ownership. He suggests that this ruling may be to the detriment of shareholders of other banks if they seek government support. After the government took over the bank, the 90p shares became worthless according to accountancy firm BDO. The investors believe that their shares should be worth between £2 and £4 each.
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